As far as AKA kite making contests, I think they are real particular about things like perfect stitching and finishing touches. Do your best sewing!

Or, if you do have an unplanned "design modification" when sewing, figure out how to hide the mistake really well!

If you are thinking about entering a kitebuilding contest, I would say go for it! At the very least, the feedback you get from the judges, and ideas you get from talking to other competitors, will make you a better builder.

The full rulebook can be found on the AKA website, but in a nutshell, the scoring is a balancing act between the four categories.

First of all, if the kite doesn't pass the flight portion, it doesn't get scored in the other categories. Your sewing could be spectacular, but if it doesn't fly when the judges say fly, you're done. So, for me personally, I focus on the flight the most, and trying to get a really wide wind range (you just never know what the wind will be doing on competition day!) For flight, single line kites must fly on 100' of line. Sport kites on a lineset between 50-100 feet. At the AKA Convention, they must fly for a minimum of 5 minutes within a 10 minute period. Best scores go to those that fly the entire time without having to be relaunched, those that show the most stable or controllable flight, etc.

Visual appeal is a score of how attractive the kite is when flying. A key point here is that the judges will be looking at it from 100 feet away; small graphics and intricate applique get lost in the distance and tend to score poorly in this category. I've gotten dinged on this one before. To score well, you need something that looks great at 100 feet away. Think big bold graphics or colors, or even an interestingly-shaped kite of a solid color (i.e. Bazzer's comet from a few years ago).

Craftsmanship is where they look at how you put the thing together. Good stitching, neat corners and pockets, loose threads clipped, spots cleaned off, etc is what gets you a good score here. (And if you do make a mistake, hide it somehow!)

Structural design is a score of the kite's physical design; i.e. how well does the structure work. If you've got innovative stuff in the structure and it works well, it will score well. They will also look at such things as, are the spars strong enough without being too heavy, is the bridle effective, why did you make the choices you did, etc.

Another tidbit is that you will get a chance to talk to the judges and present your kite during the ground judging part. You are almost doing a sales pitch; you make sure to tell them about everything that you did that fits what they're looking for in each category. For example, if I was talking to the structure judges about a sport kite, I would point out the type of spars I used and explain why I chose those particular spars. A good "sales pitch" can get you a better score!

Last edited by AhMayzon on Wed, Apr 23 2008, 01:16 AM, edited 1 time in total.

Thank you so much for the information. I needed it.-
Well my sewing did not go well, somehow my machine was pulling the edge to one side, and I had to redo the sewing in a couple of areas and it looks not too good. but, now I know, that I will have to either do another one or modify the one I have. this is a one piece sail, since it is a prototype, I can make the nessesary changes where needed. About it's flying abilities...I am sure it will fly long enough to qualify.
It's funny that I have not seen one kite like this anywhere, and at the same time everyone has seen or flown one before????
My next hint is: if you see the picture, you are looking at the boottom of it when in fly.
Hints...hmmm...lemme think...
I am sure every IKER knows how to make one of this...
Ohh...yeah...It will be a single line Kite.

Not a rock...jejeje...sorry for the little one showing rear end, my 10 years old daughter fix it up right.
thanks...you are very observative...and for that I'll give you another pretty hint...
What you see in the picture is something that may be folded...
Hoppefully this Saturday I will make it fly, and I am gonna send you pictures of it, and some video too.

AVIONCITO DE PAPEL, flew very well innitially, then when it picked up altitude, THE PLANE STARTED FLOATING ON IT'S OWN, THEN FLEW FORDWARD, (just like paper planes do) and finnally went nose down.??
I think I will change the shape of it to control it's funny flying. but I think it will be a success when I finish it next time. Let's remember this was only the prototype.
HAS ANYONE SEEN A KITE LIKE THIS OR SIMILAR ANYWHERE?

As a judge at nationals, I offer some advice. First, don't obsess over perfect stitiching. The judges would much rather see something unique where you have come up with an idea, solved problems and been successful, than any perfectly done piece that is just like every other one.
Having judged mutiple della portas all with the same design only with different colors, let me tell you how hard that is.
Try to make sure your creation really is unique. Many times people have re-discovered what the judges recognize as common knowledge. Look at old books, look at other plans on the internet. Educate yourself.
I've see tyvek kites win 1st place. That material was the perfect choice for that particular kite.
Try moving your bridle point and/or changing your spar size before you resort to a tail. If you do add a tail, be sure the style of a tail really adds to the design of your kite. Don't just stick somehting on there.
Again, thinking about della portas. 90% use a fuzzy tail. The others that maybe use a flat tail that ties in with the graphic makes a much bigger visual impression.
Most often the kites that win any competition are the ones that are above average in all 4 judging criteria. Note, not necessarily the best in any of the 4 criteria.
Don't tell the judges where you messed up. Tell them how you solved problems. Show them how you solved problems with a fabulous flight.
Good luck and keep building
Barbara

Thanks everyone...I think it is the first Paper Plane Kite. ThereforeIS UNIQUE.

BARBARA: Thanks for the advise, I can only say that definitly NO tail-s otherwise it will change the design, since I have not seen a real paper plane with a tail.
But your suggestions are very welcome, and I will continue to explore more, to expand my CURIOSITY, towards making different kites.

Thank you all. I will send a video of the final version of : "AVIONCITO DE PAPEL".

Last edited by Hector Herrera on Mon, May 05 2008, 08:03 PM, edited 2 times in total.